Do You like serrations?

H

Hardman

Joined
Dec 27, 2004
Messages
108
Serrations seem to be really popular now. Some manufacturers now are not offering plain blade models anymore. At the rate this serrated blade trend is going, I don't know whether I'll be able to buy a plain blade in the near future.

Don't get me wrong. I love Spyderco, and I think they revolutionized the knife industry with the introduction of the fully serrated delica (it was the first Spyderco I bought circa 1991 with the FRN clip at REI).

But I just hate serrations. Even when razor sharp, I find that they do not cut as well as plain blades because the serrations cause the blade to hang up when cutting (especially with corrugated cardboard and even with thick rope). The only advantage I see for a serrated blade is that it can still cut when dull and for cutting tomatoes and bread. Can any serrated blade afficionadoes convince me otherwise?

Mike

P.S.
I don't have a problem sharpening them. I found a great and easy way to sharpen them by buffing the flat side on a buffing wheel (with buffing compound on my benchgrinder) which really puts on a razor edge.
 
When I really need to cut something, I always reach for a plain edge. Most of my cutting is done on materials in which a plain edge excels. I have several serrated knvies, but only use them for certain things. If I had to cut a lot of rope or go a long time between sharpenings, I might choose a serrated blade. Otherwise, I would generally prefer a plain edge.
 
serrations always win when it comes to doing a lot of cutting of fibrous materials (rope -- plastic or otherwise, plants, fabric, what have you). the "ripping" that they offer is nice for rescue blades (cutting someone free from a seatbelt or other restraints). then of course, they do well in self defense, where serrations are going to saw and tear at flesh or protective clothing during a slash that might otherwise trip up or stall a plain edge.

i was kinda surprised at your cardboard remark, since i see a lot of forum users who prefer a serrated edge for cutting cardboard. truth of it is, the serrations are going to continue to cut these materials successfully longer than a plain edge before needing resharpening. also, i could be mistaken, but i think with some SE configurations you are getting more edge surface than a plain edge of equal length.

having said all that, i have no need for serrated edges, though i do own two combo edge knives and a fully serrated Delica (given to me by a friend 'cause he snapped the very tip off), and i usually use them when i need to pull thru some rope or cord, or such.

abe m.
 
i think some of the spyderco's look best with serrations, some just dont look right to me without them, ie the police, civilian, delica, ayoob all look best to me SE. i have a delica SE that i have sharpened once in 6 yrs, and i use it for all my utility stuff, so they are usefull, gen'ly i prefer a PE though. imho a SE ATR would be a very good edc knife.

a civilian just cries out for serrations imho.
 
you hit it right on the nail with this Hardman: "But I just hate serrations. Even when razor sharp, I find that they do not cut as well as plain blades because the serrations cause the blade to hang up when cutting (especially with corrugated cardboard and even with thick rope). The only advantage I see for a serrated blade is that it can still cut when dull and for cutting tomatoes and bread. Can any serrated blade afficionadoes convince me otherwise?"

all I can add to that is that it also cuts well on hard plastic, and that serrations sux as* for whitling, and a sharp plain edge cuts rope far better. I prefer plain blades anytime. I only have 1 serrated knife, and it's a Spyderco Delica. it spends most of its time collecting dust, and only comes out for vigorous cardboard/plastic-cutting or thin sheet-metal.

dennis
 
I'm not going to convince any of you hard-headed sandwich-eaters of anything, because it'll bounce right off of your skull anyway :p
BUT For casual users, like myself, IF you carry knives but who don't use them very often, serrations work much better. For a lot of jobs that you would need a tip for on a plain edge, you can use ANY part of a serrated knife to get your job started, which can take less time, AND is safer because you can get the job started with more precision due to cutting with an area closer to your hand. Also you have about as twice as much blade in surface area. I don't have an office job or anything like that, but I still don't need to use my knives as often as some or even most of you folks. Whatever. I have definately come to appreciated the beauty of plain edges though, and in fact most of my knives are so, but I've back around a bit to learning the error of my ways.
 
Yes I like serrations. All of my Spyderco knives have serrated blades except for my Calypso Jr. I like them because they cut more agressively/effectively and they stay sharp longer. Of course I hope I never have to use my knives for this but I always think of a possible emergency situation and I want to have 'maximum cutting power' if needed. Maybe it's interesting to read what Sal Glesser has to say about serrations. Many of you probably read this already, but if you didn't you might want to check it out here .
 
for all you serrated fanatics :D ,here's another reason to sway away from serrations: if you cut yourself, the cut is nasty! :eek: .been there with my Delica. and get this, I exerted more pressure than with a plain edge, because the edge was grabbing the material, so I slipped and......ouch! gross! :grumpy:
 
serrations are vital for me, i do agree with your paoint about the "hanging up"
time to buy a spydie Dyad!
 
Serrations rule, :D scientifically proven to cut better and longer between touch ups, I know some of you old guys have problems with the aesthetics of serrations, well considering this is a Spyderco forum, since when has the company ever given a toss about looks, function is the key. For EDC utility use nothing compares to Spyderedge. As far as this "ripping" through stuff, well whats wrong with that :confused: , great when cutting cardboard, plastic ties, rope etc., and it doesn't rip anyway, it cuts. Some of the things claimed by users that PE does better, "whittling" (I'm a Northern boy, have never intentionally whittled anything in my life), "food prep" (I have about 10 kitchen knives, thats what they're made for), "fine detail cuts" ( every seen the buisness end of a SE Dodo?). When you boil it down it is personnal preference what edge type a person wants, just suprises me how much people who love Spyderco, the most revolutionary of knife companies, still cling to old ways of thinking about knives, well so be it! Cheers, Rob
 
I like serrations, but I also like plain edges. I don't like combo edges though, since I don't think there's enough of either edge to be as useful as I'd expect, so I carry one of each.

Sometimes you need to make a clean, precise cut, sometimes you just need something seperated from something else. Plain edges are best for the former, but serrated edges excell in the latter.
 
I hate them, but then again, I don't need them. If I did need them, I'd love them. I currently don't own a single knife with a single serration.
 
Gotta love them serrations and well ok, those plain edges too. I use them for different things and consider them equally important. Hell, I even like some combo edge knives (military) but typically I just carry one SE and one PE knife.
 
Thanks for the replies.

So far 7 to 6 in favor of serrations. Sonny, thanks for the link and info... very good points (Ha!) in favor of serrations. I did just discover today that serrations work better than plain edges for cutting the shrink wrap twine most lumber yards use to fasten things to your roof rack (I think becase the teeth make mutliple initial penetrations and keep the blade from slipping). I still may be swayed to not hate them as much.

Mike
 
I prefer plainedge. I most often carry serrations. This is why:

When I asked myself, "If my partner's lead got caught in/on something and if cutting it instantly meant life or death, which Military (I own both) would I want clipped to my pocket?"

It's a no-brainer.

Smooth, laser straight push cuts are viscerally satisfying. Really, they're actually pleasing to perform. I really don't like opening mail, etc. with the SE.

But when you absolutely, positively gotta' take one thing and make it two? Spyderedge. Accept no substitutes.
 
I say both are extremely useful.

BUT, I usually only need a plain edge, and I keep them so sharp that they cut just as fast. I will not carry a knife that is not laser sharp.. If it gets used heavy one day, I rotate to another until I can touch it up. I also will not carry a new knife unless I get work the edge first to ensure that it is perfect.

If I was more lazy about sharpening, I would carry a serrated blade _also_.
 
my more or less permanent carry knives:
LM crunch with serrated blade
spydie FB01 moran
spydie frn/ats-55/se endura
spydie frn/vg-10/se calypso jr
spydie ss/pe 'fly
LM juice s2

spydie bone kiwi usually ride in my left/front pocket, though I rotate the kiwi with slipjoints

and whatever is clipped to my right pocket, lately a ss/vg-10/pe police.

Good mix of both PE and serrated, 90% of the time I grab a knife to cut something it's either the calypso jr or endura, riding on my hips in custom leather.
 
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